Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Live Saturday
Security Increased at NBA All-Star Game
Aired February 08, 2003 - 16:18 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Security is extra tight at sporting events across the country. CNN correspondent, Mike Brooks, is right here at the CNN center just outside the Phillips Arena where the NBA all-star weekend is getting ready to take place. Actually, it is well under way. Lots of people right next door, Mike.
MIKE BROOKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely, it's well under way here at CNN center and next door at Phillips Arena. In fact, as we look now down at Phillips Arena, people are starting to make their way into Phillips right now for the rookie contest, and also for the slam dunk contest later this evening.
The city is expecting thousands, hundreds of thousands of people here. And city fathers say it will bring approximately $42 million to Atlanta. So we're talking heavy, heavy crowds. But the big question is, will the games go on? Yesterday, we spoke to NBA Commissioner, David Stern, about the preparations for the NBA all-star game.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVID STERN, NBA COMMISSIONER: I'm actually glad or sad to say that we planned the security for this event with the impending prospect of a war at the orange level. And so our security is very much in place and the all-star activities are going forward.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BROOKS: Now, as the all-star game goes forward, many agencies make up the preparations and make up where the rubber meets the road tomorrow. We're getting ready for the NBA all-star game. The lead agency here in Atlanta is the Atlanta police department. But helping them out is the FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and many other government agencies.
Now, we talked earlier with the head of NBA security asking him what is better, an indoor or outdoor arena. Now there are a lot of things you take into consideration. He said it really didn't make a difference. But they're prepared for any contingency. When you're inside, you also have to have the threat -- worry about the threat of chemical, biological and radiological incidents.
Yesterday, the attorney general and FBI director, Mueller, spoke of those and said that that was one of the reasons that they boosted the level to high, to the orange level, because of some of the threats that they were getting in dealing specifically with chemical, biological and radiological. -- Carol. LIN: All right, thank you very much, Mike Brooks at the CNN Center on this all-star weekend.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired February 8, 2003 - 16:18 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Security is extra tight at sporting events across the country. CNN correspondent, Mike Brooks, is right here at the CNN center just outside the Phillips Arena where the NBA all-star weekend is getting ready to take place. Actually, it is well under way. Lots of people right next door, Mike.
MIKE BROOKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely, it's well under way here at CNN center and next door at Phillips Arena. In fact, as we look now down at Phillips Arena, people are starting to make their way into Phillips right now for the rookie contest, and also for the slam dunk contest later this evening.
The city is expecting thousands, hundreds of thousands of people here. And city fathers say it will bring approximately $42 million to Atlanta. So we're talking heavy, heavy crowds. But the big question is, will the games go on? Yesterday, we spoke to NBA Commissioner, David Stern, about the preparations for the NBA all-star game.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVID STERN, NBA COMMISSIONER: I'm actually glad or sad to say that we planned the security for this event with the impending prospect of a war at the orange level. And so our security is very much in place and the all-star activities are going forward.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BROOKS: Now, as the all-star game goes forward, many agencies make up the preparations and make up where the rubber meets the road tomorrow. We're getting ready for the NBA all-star game. The lead agency here in Atlanta is the Atlanta police department. But helping them out is the FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and many other government agencies.
Now, we talked earlier with the head of NBA security asking him what is better, an indoor or outdoor arena. Now there are a lot of things you take into consideration. He said it really didn't make a difference. But they're prepared for any contingency. When you're inside, you also have to have the threat -- worry about the threat of chemical, biological and radiological incidents.
Yesterday, the attorney general and FBI director, Mueller, spoke of those and said that that was one of the reasons that they boosted the level to high, to the orange level, because of some of the threats that they were getting in dealing specifically with chemical, biological and radiological. -- Carol. LIN: All right, thank you very much, Mike Brooks at the CNN Center on this all-star weekend.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
